Flat lay-out tape

Abstract

A flat lay-out tape for roofers that eliminates errors and saves time in striking chalk lines for aligning rows of shingles. The flat design allows the tape to lay flush against the roof surface, which facilitates accurate measuring and striking. The lay-out tape prevents errors by providing row indicators for different shingles on different sides of the tape. In the preferred embodiment, row indicators for standard shingles are shown on one side of the tape, and row indicators for architectural shingles are provided on the other side. Standard measuring tape markings can also be provided on either side of the tape. In operation, the terminal end of a lay-out tape is tacked down near the bottom of a roof, near a side edge of the roof, and the tape is extended over the apex of the roof. The same is done with a second lay-out tape, near the opposite side edge of the roof. A chalk line is then stretched, and struck, between corresponding indicators of the two lay-out tapes. The present invention drastically reduces the number of manual markings needed on a typical roof, from hundreds down to four.

1 . A dual sided, flat lay-out tape that is adapted to assist roofers in laying out rows of shingles on a roof, wherein the lay-out tape saves time by eliminating the need for multiple manual markings and eliminates marking errors by having mark indicators for only one type of shingle on any one side of the tape, the dual sided, flat lay-out tape comprising:
 a housing, the housing having a durable exterior surface that provides protection to items in an interior of the housing, wherein the housing includes a slotted opening, and at least part of a rewind mechanism is centrally located in the interior of the housing; and,   a flat ribbon, the ribbon having a first side that includes row indicator markings for a first type of roofing shingle, and a second side that includes row indicator markings for a second type of roofing shingle, wherein each set of indicator markings includes a “start” marking and indicates to the roofer where to strike chalk lines on the roof for row alignment purposes, and wherein the ribbon further includes an interior end that is attached to the rewind mechanism and an exterior end that at least partially extends outside of the opening in the housing, the exterior end of the ribbon having attached thereto an eyelet that allows the exterior end to be temporarily attached to the roof.   
   
   
       2 . The flat lay-out tape of  claim 1 , wherein the first side of the ribbon further includes quarter inch, half inch and inch indicator markings along a first two inch length of the ribbon starting at the exterior end of the ribbon that assist the roofer in measuring an overhang of a first row of shingles. 
   
   
       3 . The flat lay-out tape of  claim 1 , wherein the first side of the ribbon further includes standard measuring tape indicator markings that run a length of the ribbon that further-allows the roofer to use the lay-out tape for measuring purposes. 
   
   
       4 . The flat lay-out tape of  claim 1 , wherein the first type of roofing shingles are architectural shingles and the second type of shingles are standard shingles. 
   
   
       5 . The flat lay-out tape of  claim 1 , wherein the rewind mechanism is an automatic rewind mechanism and the housing includes at least one sliding lock that is able to lock the ribbon in place after the ribbon has been extended through the opening a desired distance. 
   
   
       6 . The flat lay-out tape of  claim 1 , wherein the rewind mechanism is a hand operated mechanism and the lay-out tape includes a hand crank for reeling the ribbon back into the housing. 
   
   
       7 . The flat lay-out tape of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is primarily made of a hard plastic material and the ribbon is made from a durable material, including fiberglass and metal. 
   
   
       8 . The flat lay-out tape of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior end of the ribbon further includes an “L” shaped hook that prevents the exterior end of the ribbon from passing into the interior of the housing, and wherein the eyelet is located a distance from the exterior end of the ribbon. 
   
   
       9 . A flat lay-out tape that is adapted to assist roofers in laying out rows of shingles on a roof, wherein the lay-out tape saves time by eliminating the need for multiple manual markings on the roof, and eliminates marking errors by having mark indicators for only one type of shingle on any one side of the tape, the flat lay-out tape comprising:
 a housing, the housing having a durable exterior surface that provides protection to items in an interior of the housing, wherein the housing includes a slotted opening, and at least part of a rewind mechanism is centrally located in the interior of the housing; and,   a coiled ribbon that is able to lay flat against a surface when unrolled, the ribbon having a first side that includes a set of row indicator markings, including a “first row” indicator, for a first type of roofing shingle, the indicator markings being able to indicate to the roofer where to strike chalk lines on the roof for row alignment purposes, and wherein the ribbon further includes an interior end that is attached to the rewind mechanism and an exterior end that at least partially extends outside of the opening in the housing, the ribbon further having an eyelet located a distance from the exterior end, the eyelet allowing the ribbon to be temporarily attached to the roof.   
   
   
       10 . The lay-out tape of  claim 9 , wherein the first row indicator is 13 ¼ inches from the exterior end of the ribbon. 
   
   
       11 . The lay-out tape of  claim 9 , wherein the first side of the ribbon further includes standard measuring tape indicator markings, starting at the exterior end of the ribbon and extending at least two inches up a length of the ribbon. 
   
   
       12 . The lay-out tape of  claim 9 , wherein the ribbon further includes a second side that includes a second set of row indicator markings for a second type of roofing shingle. 
   
   
       13 . The lay-out tape of  claim 9 , wherein the rewind mechanism is an automatic rewind mechanism and the housing includes at least one sliding lock adjacent to the slotted opening that is able to lock the ribbon in place after the ribbon has been extended a desired distance through the opening. 
   
   
       14 . The lay-out tape of  claim 9 , wherein the rewind mechanism is a hand operated mechanism and the lay-out tape includes a hand crank for reeling the ribbon back into the housing. 
   
   
       15 . A flat lay-out tape that is adapted to assist roofers in laying out rows of shingles on a roof, wherein the lay-out tape saves time by eliminating the need for multiple manual markings on the roof, and eliminates marking errors by having mark indicators for only one type of shingle on any one side of the tape, the flat lay-out tape comprising:
 a housing, the housing having a durable exterior that provides protection to items in an interior of the housing, wherein the housing includes a slotted opening, and at least part of a rewind mechanism is centrally located in the interior of the housing; and,   a coiled tape that is able to lay flat against a surface when unrolled, the tape having a first side that includes a set of row indicators, including an “initial mark” indicator and a “first row” indicator, the indicators allowing the roofer to accurately strike chalk lines on the roof for row alignment purposes, and wherein the tape further includes an interior end that is attached to the rewind mechanism and an exterior end that at least partially extends outside of the opening in the housing, the exterior end having attached thereto an eyelet that allows the tape to be temporarily attached to the roof.   
   
   
       16 . The lay-out tape of  claim 15 , wherein the initial mark indicator is 13 ¼ inches from the exterior end of the tape, and the first row indicator is less than 13 inches from the exterior end of the tape. 
   
   
       17 . The lay-out tape of  claim 15 , wherein the first side of the tape further includes standard measuring tape indicator markings, starting at the exterior end and extending at least two inches up a length of the tape. 
   
   
       18 . The lay-out tape of  claim 15 , wherein the tape further includes a second side and the second side of the tape includes a second set of row indicators, the second set of indicators including “initial mark” and “first row” indicators, wherein the initial mark indicator is a further distance away from the exterior end of the tape than the first row indicator. 
   
   
       19 . The lay-out tape of  claim 15 , wherein the rewind mechanism is an automatic rewind mechanism and the housing includes at least one sliding lock adjacent to the slotted opening that is able to lock the tape in place after the tape has been extended a desired distance through the opening. 
   
   
       20 . The lay-out tape of  claim 15 , wherein the rewind mechanism is a hand operated mechanism and the housing includes a hand crank for reeling in the tape.